Cairns coach Kelly wants Taipans off the bottom

CAIRNS coach Mike Kelly wants the Taipans off the bottom of the NBL ladder very soon and that starts with Melbourne United today.

Head Coach Mike Kelly of the Taipans during the Round 5 NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Cairns Taipans at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, November 9, 2018. (AAP Image/David Rowland) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

CAIRNS head coach Mike Kelly says it is time for the Taipans to “make a stand’’.

The Snakes have slithered to the bottom of the NBL ladder with five straight losses since their season-opening win over the Brisbane Bullets four weeks ago.

After the 23-point thumping at the hands of the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland on Friday, the Taipans face champions Melbourne United in the Victorian capital today.

Kelly said the run of losses was “uncomfortable’’ and called on his side to step up.

“You have to take a stand defensively and we haven’t done that as a group yet or shown that we can do it consistently,’’ he said.

“Until we do that, teams will run through us.’’

Point guard Melo Trimble led from the front against the Breakers with 23 points, with fellow import DJ Newbill adding 11 points, five rebounds and two assists and Kuany Kuany producing an eye-catching cameo off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds.

But yet again, the Taipans left too much for too few.

Nobody else hit double-figures for Cairns with import Devon Hall having another quiet night with five points and one field goal from five attempts in 28 minutes of action.

Kelly said the Taipans could ill-afford another slow start against United, who jumped Cairns last weekend on the way to a 98-85 win on the road.

Originally published as Cairns coach Kelly wants Taipans off the bottom